Journey's End

They say that all good things must come to an end, and our trip to Tennessee last week ended with visits to the towns of Wartrace and Lynchburg.

I've discovered that no matter how small a town is, you can usually find something interesting or unique about it. And the town of Wartrace, is a perfect example. Another railroad town, Wartrace is located about five miles south of Bell Buckle on Tennessee Highway 269 (you can click on the link to read my post about Bell Buckle).

Wartrace is known as the "Cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse," a breed known for its gentle temperament and smooth ride. In the early 1930s, horse trainer Floyd Carothers and his wife Olive, bought the 1917 hotel that faces the railroad.

In meetings at the hotel, the idea for a walking horse show was conceived. The first one was in 1939, and Strolling Jim, trained by Carothers behind the hotel, was named the first grand champion. Strolling Jim is buried on the hotel grounds.

After leaving Wartrace, our next stop was Lynchburg, which is home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Our time for exploration was running short, so I didn't get pictures of the distillery, but its presence was obvious throughout the downtown area (notice the whiskey barrels scattered around the square).

The 1885 courthouse is an imposing landmark on the Square, currently being used to house businesses catering to tourists.

I love its quaint cupola ...

There are several restaurants on the square, and we chose the Iron Kettle for a quick hamburger. The place was filled by the time we left, and their "blue plate special" looked delicious.

I hope you enjoyed my photo tour of our trip. If you missed the first posts, you can read them by clicking on the links below.

On the Road
A Town called Franklin
An English Church in Tennessee
Up and Down the Backroads of Middle Tennessee
A Place Called Bell Buckle

I hope we can go back again in the spring and visit some of the places we didn't have time for this trip. If Tennessee is beautiful in the middle of winter, just imagine what it will look like in the spring.